Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced Tuesday that Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell will serve as acting chief, following the resignation of Brian O’Hara.
Here are a few things to know about her:
Since 2023, Blackwell has served as the assistant chief of operations for MPD.
She joined the department in 1999 as a civilian employee, became a Community Service Officer in 2000, and in 2002 became a sworn police officer. In 2019, she was promoted to lead the department’s training division. Blackwell has also served as the commander of the department’s 5th Precinct.
Blackwell is a native of northeast Minneapolis and has been a member of the Minnesota National Guard since 1997. She recently achieved the rank of Command Sergeant Major of the 84th Troop Command. In 2020, Blackwell spoke during a promotions ceremony about the generations of her family who have served in the military.
According to the city’s police complaint dashboard, there have been six complaints filed against Blackwell. All but one have been closed with no discipline issued. One case filed after 2023 remains pending.
In 2021, Blackwell testified against former police officer Derek Chauvin, who was then on trial for the murder of George Floyd. During her testimony, Blackwell said officers are required to try to de-escalate a situation and, if force is used, to stop once the person is no longer resisting, then render any necessary medical aid they're trained to provide. While she didn't mention the officers specifically, she went through department policy and the training required of all officers.
